On the subject of quantum mechanics, I'm thinking about making an electron wave simulator out of a "Slinky" spring toy which is an excellent model of wave motion:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slinky
I'm familiar with how waves can move through a stationary group of particles such as sound waves traveling through a medium (like the column of air in an organ pipe). However the concept of particles themselves (such as electrons) moving through free space as waves (or in a circular motion in an atom) is somewhat obscure to visualize.
My concept of an electron wave in the orbital of an atom is a longitudinal wave with the point of maximum charge density (essentially what is called "the electron" in the Bohr model) continuously traveling around the nucleus in an "electron cloud" that wraps around the the nucleus. This is analogous to a sound wave continuously traveling around an organ pipe that's bent in a circle.
My idea is to simulate electron waves in the orbital of an atom by the wave motion through a Slinky wrapped in a circle (like a donut) and the ends connected together. A longitudinal wave would continuously travel around the Slinky, but it's important to note that the Slinky itself does not rotate - it's just the wave motion that rotates. This would explain how "the electron" (actually the point of maximum charge density in the electron cloud) can move in a circular path while avoiding the "Synchrotron Death Spiral".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slinky
I'm familiar with how waves can move through a stationary group of particles such as sound waves traveling through a medium (like the column of air in an organ pipe). However the concept of particles themselves (such as electrons) moving through free space as waves (or in a circular motion in an atom) is somewhat obscure to visualize.
My concept of an electron wave in the orbital of an atom is a longitudinal wave with the point of maximum charge density (essentially what is called "the electron" in the Bohr model) continuously traveling around the nucleus in an "electron cloud" that wraps around the the nucleus. This is analogous to a sound wave continuously traveling around an organ pipe that's bent in a circle.
My idea is to simulate electron waves in the orbital of an atom by the wave motion through a Slinky wrapped in a circle (like a donut) and the ends connected together. A longitudinal wave would continuously travel around the Slinky, but it's important to note that the Slinky itself does not rotate - it's just the wave motion that rotates. This would explain how "the electron" (actually the point of maximum charge density in the electron cloud) can move in a circular path while avoiding the "Synchrotron Death Spiral".